Surgical tube



March 29, 1960 c. c. cowLEY SURGICAL TUBE Filed June 2, 1958 arme/EVS `SURGICAL TUBE Calvin C. Cowley, La Canada, Calif., assignor to Don Baxter, Inc., Glendale, Calif., a corporation of Nevada Application June 2, 1958, Serialo. 739,345 s creams, (cl. 12s-4344)] tubes, are diicult or impossible to mold. YThey are therefore made from a long length of double lumen tubing with an expensive' metal adapter. Such rubber tubes have certain inherent disadvantages. For example, the

tubes are opaque so that materials draining through the tube lcannot be easily observed. The Wall of the Vtube must be thick so that the tube will not collapse. This makes the useable passage small for a givenoutside diameter. Rubber tubes are undesirably affected by lubricants and by chemicals, such as suliides, present in certain body passages. Rubber may cause irritation of nasal and pharyngeal mucosa. Such irritation results in secretions Which tend to crust on the tube making intubation diflicult. Rubber tubes are so expensive that they are.

usually used several times. For such reuse, discoloration and odor retention are very troublesome.

It is therefore an object of this invention tormake an inexpensive, double lumen surgical tube.

A further object of the -invention is to provideY a double vlumen surgical tube made from a continuous length of extruded, double lumen tubing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a plastic, i

double lumen surgical tube.

A further object of the invention is to provide a con-y venient means for attaching a side arm to an extruded, double lumen tube.

,A still further object of the invention is to providejan effective method for attaching a rubber sleeve to a plastic, double lumen, surgical tube.

The surgical tube of the present invention will be more fully understood from the description of the preferred form of the invention given with the accompanying drawings, in which:

-Figure l is a plan view of the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged View, partially in section, of the area designated as 2 on Figure l;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view, partially in section, of the area 3 of Figure 1; Y Y

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional View of the area 4 of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig-` ure 4; l

Figure 6 is an enlarged view, partially in section, of the area 6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 on Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawings, the surgical tube, generally indicated as 10, has an elongated length of double lumen tubing 11. The tubing 11 is preferably made of an extruded length of rubber or plastic. In most cases, plastic will 'be preferred for reasons already. mentioned. Polyvinyl chloride plastic is particularly suitable, but polyethylene, polyvinyl acetate, and other non-toxic, non- Unid States Pafnffo CC f Pieniea Mar. .29, 1960 20'-50% barium sulfate can be incorporated in the' poly# vinyl chloride to increase the opacity ofthe tubing to X-ra'ys.' A balloon 13 is attached tothe distal end 12 of the tubing 11. Near the proximal end 9 of the tubin'g 11', a side arm 14 connects with the small lumen 15 of the tubing 11 and terminates at a connector 16. An extension tube 18 is attached to the proximal end 9 of the largeflumeny 17 of the tubing 11 by connector 19, and

terminates in an adapter 20. The side arm 14 and the extension tube 18 are preferably made of transparent vThe exterior surface oftubing 11 is substantially circular in cross section, except for a small ridge 1`1. The small lumen 15 has la circular cross section andthe large lumen 17 is crescent shaped. The distal end 0f the small lumen 15 is rounded and closed by the wall 21. The distal 'end 10 of the Vlarge lumen 17Y is also rounded, and is provided with an end opening 22. A round operiing l23 is located in the-side wall of lumen 17 between the distal end 12 and the balloon-13, and elliptical openings 24 are located proximal to the balloon.

Within the balloon 13, the lumen 17 is provided with` reinforcing tubes 25 and 26 preferably made of nylon or `other stiff heat sterilizable plastic. In like manner, the small lumen 15 contains a tube 27` and a solid plug 28. The balloon 13 is made of a thin, resilient rubber tube,

,the end 29 of which is tied to the double lumen tubingll by the thread 30. The portion 31 of the rubber tube is folded back over the thread and the end 32 is secured Y `to the tubing 11 at the location of the rigid tubes 25 and 27 by atliread tie 33.` vPassages 34 open from the sniall lumen 15 into the balloon 13.

As shown in Figure'2, the side arm 14 is 'connected tothe double lumen tubing 11 by a rigid, plastic tube 37, slightly larger in diameter than tubing 11, which passes through the outer wall V38 of the small lumen 15 forniing av ap 39 in the wall. The tube37 extends into the lumen 1S and down along it toward the: distal end 12.' The outer surface of tube 37 is preferably coated with adhesive and the end 40 may be beveled to facilitate insertion into the lumen. l

As shown in Figure 3, the extension 18 is connected to the double lumen tubing 11 by an adapter 19. In the areaY coveredv by the' adapter 19, thel small lumen 15 contains a plug 4 2 and the large lumen 17 contains a rigidtube 43'. u

lFor'the purpose of'illustation, the invention has been shown as a gastrointestinal tube.

an endotracheal catheter, or for any other tube or cannula Where it is desirable to attach a side arm or a balloon to a continuous length of double lumen tubing.

Surgical tubes of this invention are easily and inexpensively made. A continuous length of double lumen tubing is extruded. A desired length of the tubing 11 is cut off. Inserts 25, 26, 27 andr28 are dipped lin ethyl acetate, pushed into position in the lumens 15 and 17 and the distal end 12 formed in a mold. The liolesf23, 24 and 34` are then made and the balloon 13 attached. At the proximal end the inserts 42 and 43 are dipped in ethyl acetate, placedin they lumens 15 and 17, and the extension 18 attached withthe connector 19. Adhesive is applied to the entire outer surface of tube 37 and allowed to dry.v A hole is cut through the wall of the small lumen 15. The adhesive on tube 37 is then softened with ethyl acetate, the side arm 14 attached, and the end 40 of the tube 37 pushed through the hole into the lumen 15.

obstruction, to diagnose the nature and the location of The inventionr may n also be used, however, as a balloon or Foley-type catheter, u

the obstruction, to empty a portion of the intestine, or to carry barium sulfate suspension to a desired point so that X-ray studies of the intestine may be made. Before use Vthe tube is lubricated, the balloon 13 deated tbroughthe lumen 15, and the distal end of the tube passed through the patients nose. When the distal tip .of the Vtube enters the stomach, suction is applied and is maintained thereafter. The patient is then placed on his rightside and the tube advanced slowly. Ten to 25 cc. of air are then injected from a syringe through the lumen 15 into the balloon 13. Peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract then carries the inflated balloon on down the Vgastrointestinal tract. If desired, mercury may be injected into the balloon. Distention of the intestine is relieved through the holes 22 and 23 in front of the balloon 13. Suction may be applied to the lumen 17 to empty the intestine or to obtain samples of the intestinal contents.

I claim: Y

1. A surgical tube comprising: an elongated section of extruded double lumen tubing, a rigid tube piercing the wall of one of said lumens and extending down said lumen toward the distal end, and a side arm extending from said rigid tube.

2. A surgical tube according to claim l, in which the rigid tube has a beveled end and is slightly larger in diameter than the lumen into which it extends.

3. A surgical tube according to claim 1, in which the double lumen tubing is opaque to light and X-rays, and

a light transparent tube extends from the proximal end of the second lumen.

4. A surgical tube according to claim l, in which one of the lumens is large and the other small; solid plugs in each end of said small lumen; a tubularV rubber balloon attached at the distal end of the elongated tube; and a Apassage through the outer wall of the small lumen into 'said balloon. l

5. A surgical tube according to claim 1, in which the exterior of the elongated section of extruded tubing is substantially cylindrical; one of the two lumens is small and the other large; and the small lumen is substantially cylindrical and is located within the cylindrical tubing.

6. A surgical tube comprising: an elongated section of extruded tubing, having a large and a small lumen; a

from the small lumen into said balloon; said lumens are supported by inserts located at the ends of the balloon and the balloon to the tubing by thread wrappings.

7. A surgical tube comprising: an elongated section of extruded tubing, having a large and a small lumen; a thin rubber tube attached to the outside of said tubing `near the distal end; one end of said rubber tube being fastened to the tubing near the distal end; a portion of the rubber tube extending toward the distal tip and doubled back over the fastened end; the other end of the` rubber tube being fastened to said tubing proximal to the first mentioned end to form a balloon; and passages from the small lumen into said balloon, the distal end of said large lumen being provided with a circular opening; the side wall of said large lumen having a second circular opening between the distal tip and the balloon; and the said wall of said large lumen having elliptical openings proximal to the balloon.

8. A surgical tube comprising: an elongated section of extruded polyvinyl chloride tubing, said tubing containing suicient barium sulfate to be opaque to light and to X-rays; a small and a large lumen extending through the said tubing; a smooth, rounded distal tip on said tubing; an opening in the wall of the large lumen at said tip; a thin rubber tube attached to said tubing near the distal end; one end of said rubber tubing being attached by thread wrapping; a portion of said rubber tube extending toward the distal tip and doubled back over said Wrapping; the other end of said rubber tubing being attached to the extruded tubing by a second thread wrapping to form a balloon; rigid, plastic inserts in each lumen beneath each of the thread wrappings, the insert in the distal end of the small lumen being solid, the others tubular; at least one opening in the outer wall of the small lumen into said balloon; a circular opening in the side wall of the large lumen between the distal tip and said balloon; elliptical openings in the side wall of the large lumen proximal to said balloon; a transparent, plastic tube connecting with the large lumen and extending from the proximal end thereof; a solid plastic insert in the proximal end of the small lumen; a rigid plastic tube piercing the outer wall of the small lumen near the proximal end; a beveled end on said rigid tube extending down the small lumen toward the distal end; adhesive around the rigid tube, cementng said tube to the inner wall of this small lumen; and a exible transparent, plastic side arm extending from the rigid tube.

Trinder Ian. 3, 1950 Lee Nov. 19, 1957 

